Cell Culture Medium for Eukaryotic Cells

ABSTRACT

Cell culture media are provided herein as are methods of using the media for cell culture and protein production from cells.

FIELD

The present invention generally pertains to a cell culture medium foreukaryotic cells and the production of natural and recombinant productsderived therefrom.

BACKGROUND

Cell culture manufacturing technology is widely used for the productionof biopharmaceuticals. As the demand for biopharmaceuticals increase,demand for increase in cell growth, viability and protein productionhave also increased considerably. Much effort is now being placed onmethods and strategies for growing, feeding, and maintaining cellcultures.

New cell culture methods that provide even incremental improvements inrecombinant protein production are valuable, given the challenges andexpense of large scale cell culture processes and the growing demand forgreater quantities of and lower costs for biological products.Improvements to cell culture processes, recombinant polypeptideexpression, titer, and cell viability that can lead to higher productionlevels, thereby reducing the costs associated with manufacturing proteintherapeutics are needed.

SUMMARY

Growth in the development, manufacture and sale of protein-basedbiopharmaceutical products has led to an increasing demand forproduction methods that can improve production of the biopharmaceuticalproducts.

Embodiments disclosed herein address the aforementioned demands byproviding methods and media for manufacture of such biopharmaceuticalproducts.

The disclosure, at least in part, provides a cell culture medium foreukaryotic cells.

In one exemplary embodiment, the cell culture medium for eukaryoticcells can comprise a basal medium. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture medium can further comprise 5-methylthioadenosine. Inanother aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can compriseat least about 10 nM of 5-methythioadenosine. In yet another aspect ofthis embodiment, the cell culture medium can comprise about 10 nM toabout 200 nM of 5-methythioadenosine. In one aspect of this embodiment,the cell culture medium can further comprise nicotinamide. In anotheraspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can comprise at leastabout 50 nM of nicotinamide. In yet another aspect of this embodiment,the cell culture medium can comprise about 2000 nM of 5-nicotinamide. Inone aspect of this embodiment, a titer of a protein grown in the cellculture medium is at least about 2% greater than another cell culturemedium not comprising at least about 10 nM 5-methylthioadenosine. Inanother aspect of this embodiment, a titer of a protein grown in thecell culture medium is at least about 2% greater than another cellculture medium not comprising at least about 50 nM nicotinamide. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can optionallyfurther comprise one or more acids selected from lactic acid, phenyllactic acid, indolelactic acid, succinic acid, alpha-hydroxyisovalericacid, alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid, 2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)lactic acid, or2-hydroxy-3-methylvaleric acid, salts of these acids, esters of theseacids and combinations thereof. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture medium can optionally further comprise sugars, amino acids,vitamins, salts, trace metal ions, purines, and/or pyrimidines. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can comprise salts oresters of 5-methythioadenosine. In another aspect of this embodiment,the cell culture medium can comprise salts or esters of nicotinamide. Inone aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can have a pH ofabout 6.5 to about 8. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culturemedium does not have a protein derived from an animal. In one aspect ofthis embodiment, the cell culture medium can be a serum-free medium. Inone aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can be achemically-defined medium.

In one exemplary embodiment, the cell culture medium for eukaryoticcells can comprise a feed medium. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture medium can further comprise 5-methylthioadenosine. Inanother aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can compriseat least about 10 nM of 5-methythioadenosine. In yet another aspect ofthis embodiment, the cell culture medium can comprise about 10 nM toabout 200 nM of 5-methythioadenosine. In one aspect of this embodiment,the cell culture medium can further comprise nicotinamide. In anotheraspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can comprise at leastabout 50 nM of nicotinamide. In yet another aspect of this embodiment,the cell culture medium can comprise about 50 nM to about 2000 nM of5-nicotinamide. In an alternate aspect of this embodiment, the cellculture medium can further comprise 5-methylthioadenosine andnicotinamide. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture mediumcan optionally further comprise one or more acids selected from lacticacid, phenyl lactic acid, indolelactic acid, succinic acid,alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid,2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)lactic acid, or 2-hydroxy-3-methylvaleric acid,salts of these acids, esters of these acids and combinations thereof. Inone aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can optionallyfurther comprise sugars, amino acids, vitamins, salts, trace metal ions,purines, and/or pyrimidines. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cellculture medium can comprise salts or esters of 5-methythioadenosine. Inanother aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can comprisesalts or esters of nicotinamide. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture medium can have a pH of about 6.5 to about 8. In one aspectof this embodiment, the cell culture medium does not have a proteinderived from an animal. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cellculture medium can be a serum-free medium. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the cell culture medium can be a chemically-defined medium.In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can optionallycomprise nicotinamide. In one aspect of this embodiment, a titer of aprotein grown in the cell culture medium is at least about 2% greaterthan another cell culture medium not comprising at least about 10 nM5-methylthioadenosine. In another aspect of this embodiment, a titer ofa protein grown in the cell culture medium is at least about 2% greaterthan another cell culture medium not comprising at least about 50 nMnicotinamide.

The disclosure, at least in part, provides a method of producing aprotein.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method of producing a protein cancomprise culturing eukaryotic cells having a nucleic acid encoding theprotein in a cell culture production medium and feeding the eukaryoticcells using an enriched media having 5-methylthioadenosine during a timeperiod. In one aspect of this embodiment, the enriched media can have atleast about 1 nM 5-methylthioadenosine. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the cell culture production medium can comprise one or moreacids selected from lactic acid, phenyl lactic acid, indolelactic acid,succinic acid, alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, alpha-hydroxyisocaproicacid, 2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)lactic acid, or 2-hydroxy-3-methylvalericacid, salts of these acids, esters of these acids and combinationsthereof. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture productionmedium can comprise sugars, amino acids, vitamins, salts, trace metalions, purines, and/or pyrimidines. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture production medium can comprise salts or esters of5-methythioadenosine. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell cultureproduction medium can have a pH of about 6.5 to about 8. In one aspectof this embodiment, the cell culture production medium does not have aprotein derived from an animal. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture production medium can be a serum-free medium. In one aspectof this embodiment, the cell culture production medium can be achemically-defined medium. In one aspect of this embodiment, theeukaryotic cells can be selected from Baby Hamster Kidney cell lines,Chinese Hamster Ovary cell lines, Murine myeloma cell lines, Mousemyeloma cell lines, Human embryonic kidney cell lines,Human-retina-derived cell lines, and/or Amniocyte cell lines. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the protein can be selected from the groupconsisting of an antibody or a fragment or derivative thereof, a fusionprotein, and a physiologically active non-antibody protein. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the method can produce a titer of a proteinat least about 2% greater than a titer of a protein in a cell cultureproduction medium not having at least about 10 nM 5-methythioadenosine.In one aspect of this embodiment, the enriched media can optionallycomprise nicotinamide. In one aspect of this embodiment, the method ofproducing a protein can be a fed-batch method.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method of producing a protein cancomprise culturing eukaryotic cells having a nucleic acid encoding theprotein in a cell culture production medium and feeding the eukaryoticcells using an enriched media having nicotinamide during a certain timeperiod. In one aspect of this embodiment, the enriched media can have atleast about 5 nM nicotinamide. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture production medium can comprise one or more acids selectedfrom lactic acid, phenyl lactic acid, indolelactic acid, succinic acid,alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid,2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)lactic acid, or 2-hydroxy-3-methylvaleric acid,salts of these acids, esters of these acids and combinations thereof. Inone aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture production medium cancomprise sugars, amino acids, vitamins, salts, trace metal ions,purines, and/or pyrimidines. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cellculture production medium can comprise salts or esters of nicotinamide.In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture production medium canhave a pH of about 6.5 to about 8. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture production medium does not have a protein derived from ananimal. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture productionmedium can be a serum-free medium. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture production medium can be a chemically-defined medium. Inone aspect of this embodiment, the eukaryotic cells can be selected fromBaby Hamster Kidney cell lines, Chinese Hamster Ovary cell lines, Murinemyeloma cell lines, Mouse myeloma cell lines, Human embryonic kidneycell lines, Human-retina-derived cell lines, and/or Amniocyte celllines. In one aspect of this embodiment, the protein can be selectedfrom the group consisting of an antibody or a fragment or derivativethereof, a fusion protein, and a physiologically active non-antibodyprotein. In one aspect of this embodiment, the method can produce atiter of a protein at least about 2% greater than a titer of a proteinin a cell culture production medium not having at least about 50 nMnicotinamide. In one aspect of this embodiment, the enriched media canoptionally comprise 5-methylthioadenosine. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the method of producing a protein can be a fed-batch method.

The disclosure, at least in part, provides a method for increasingproduction of a protein.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method for increasing production of aprotein can comprise culturing eukaryotic cells in a cell culturemedium, supplementing the cell culture medium with 5-methythioadenosine,and expressing a protein. In one aspect of this embodiment,concentration of 5-methythioadenosine can be at least about 10 nM. Inone aspect of this embodiment, concentration of 5-methythioadenosine canbe about 10 nM to about 200 nM. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture medium can comprise one or more acids selected from lacticacid, phenyl lactic acid, indolelactic acid, succinic acid,alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid,2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactic acid, or 2-hydroxy-3-methylvaleric acid, saltsof these acids, esters of these acids and combinations thereof. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can comprise sugars,amino acids, vitamins, salts, trace metal ions, purines, and/orpyrimidines. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture mediumcan comprise salts or esters of 5-methythioadenosine. In one aspect ofthis embodiment, the cell culture medium can have a pH of about 6.5 toabout 8. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium doesnot have a protein derived from an animal. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the cell culture medium can be a serum-free medium. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can be achemically-defined medium. In one aspect of this embodiment, eukaryoticcells can be selected from Baby Hamster Kidney cell lines, ChineseHamster Ovary cell lines, Murine myeloma cell lines, Mouse myeloma celllines, Human embryonic kidney cell lines, Human-retina-derived celllines, and/or Amniocyte cell lines. In one aspect of this embodiment,the protein can be selected from the group consisting of an antibody ora fragment or derivative thereof, a fusion protein, and aphysiologically active non-antibody protein. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the supplementation with 5-methythioadenosine increasestiter of the recombinant protein by at least about 2%. In one aspect ofthis embodiment, the cell culture medium can be optionally supplementedwith nicotinamide.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method for increasing production of aprotein can comprise culturing eukaryotic cells in a cell culturemedium, supplementing the cell culture medium with nicotinamide, andexpressing a protein. In one aspect of this embodiment, concentration ofnicotinamide can be at least about 50 nM. In one aspect of thisembodiment, concentration of 5-methythioadenosine can be about 50 nM toabout 2000 nM. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture mediumcan comprise one or more acids selected from lactic acid, phenyl lacticacid, indolelactic acid, succinic acid, alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid,alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactic acid, or2-hydroxy-3-methylvaleric acid, salts of these acids, esters of theseacids and combinations thereof. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture medium can comprise sugars, amino acids, vitamins, salts,trace metal ions, purines, and/or pyrimidines. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the cell culture medium can comprise salts or esters ofnicotinamide. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture mediumcan have a pH of about 6.5 to about 8. In one aspect of this embodiment,the cell culture medium does not have a protein derived from an animal.In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can be aserum-free medium. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culturemedium can be a chemically-defined medium. In one aspect of thisembodiment, eukaryotic cells can be selected from Baby Hamster Kidneycell lines, Chinese Hamster Ovary cell lines, Murine myeloma cell lines,Mouse myeloma cell lines, Human embryonic kidney cell lines,Human-retina-derived cell lines, and/or Amniocyte cell lines. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the protein can be selected from the groupconsisting of an antibody or a fragment or derivative thereof, a fusionprotein, and a physiologically active non-antibody protein. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the supplementation with nicotinamideincreases titer of the recombinant protein by at least about 2%. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can be optionallysupplemented with 5-methyladenosine.

The disclosure, at least in part, provides a method for producing aprotein.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method for producing a protein cancomprise introducing into cell(s) a nucleic acid comprising a sequenceencoding a protein and culturing the cell(s) in a cell culture medium.In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can beenriched with at least about 10 nM 5-methythioadenosine. In anotheraspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can be enriched withat least about 50 nM nicotinamide. In yet another aspect of thisembodiment, the cell culture medium can be enriched with at least about10 nM 5-methythioadenosine and at least about 50 nM nicotinamide. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the method for producing a protein canfurther comprise maintaining the cell culture medium to express a highertiter of protein in the cell(s). In one aspect of this embodiment, themethod for producing a protein can further comprise harvesting theprotein. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell(s) can be selectedfrom Baby Hamster Kidney cell lines, Chinese Hamster Ovary cell lines,Murine myeloma cell lines, Mouse myeloma cell lines, Human embryonickidney cell lines, Human-retina-derived cell lines, and/or Amniocytecell lines. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture mediumcan further comprise one or more acids selected from lactic acid, phenyllactic acid, indolelactic acid, succinic acid, alpha-hydroxyisovalericacid, alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactic acid, or2-hydroxy-3-methylvaleric acid, salts of these acids, esters of theseacids and combinations thereof. In one aspect of this embodiment, thecell culture medium can further comprise sugars, amino acids, vitamins,salts, trace metal ions, purines, and/or pyrimidines. In one aspect ofthis embodiment, the cell culture medium can have a pH of about 6.5 toabout 8. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium doesnot have a protein derived from an animal. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the cell culture medium can be a serum-free medium. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the cell culture medium can be achemically-defined medium. In one aspect of this embodiment, the proteincan be selected from the group consisting of an antibody or a fragmentor derivative thereof, a fusion protein, and a physiologically activenon-antibody protein. In one aspect of this embodiment, the method canexpress a 2% higher titer of protein in the cell(s) compared to cell(s)grown in a cell culture medium that does not have at least about 10 nM5-methythioadenosine. In another aspect of this embodiment, the methodfor producing a protein can further comprise maintaining the cellculture medium to express a 2% higher titer of protein in the cell(s)compared to cell(s) grown in a cell culture medium that does not have atleast about 50 nM nicotinamide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the multivariate analysis (MVA) result of investigation ofcomponents present in soy hydrolysate.

FIG. 2 shows correlation data obtained from studying the effect of5-methythioadenosine concentration in an enriched medium used tosupplement a cell culture medium to the protein titer (g/L) according toone exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a regression line relating to the variables (N=70) used toevaluate the effect of concentration of 5-methythioadenosine in a cellculture medium to the protein titer (g/L) according to one exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 shows correlation data obtained from studying the effect ofnicotinamide concentration in an enriched medium used to supplement acell culture medium to the protein titer (g/L) according to oneexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a regression line relating to the variables (N=70) used toevaluate the effect of concentration of nicotinamide in a cell culturemedium to the protein titer (g/L) according to one exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Biopharmaceutical products have been very effective in diagnostic andtherapeutic applications (Dawn M Ecker, Susan Dana Jones & Howard LLevine, The therapeutic monoclonal antibody market, 7 MABS 9-14 (2014);Brian A. Baldo, Chimeric Fusion binding molecules Used for Therapy:Indications, Mechanisms, and Safety, 38 DRUG SAFETY 455-479 (2015)).Some cell culture media used for culturing cells to producebiopharmaceutical products have been well documented in the literatureand a number of media are commercially available. Typical components ofcell culture media include amino acids, organic and inorganic salts,vitamins, trace metals, sugars, lipids and nucleic acids, the types andamounts of which may vary depending upon the particular requirements ofa given cell or tissue type.

One goal of protein production can be optimization of cell culture inorder to obtain the greatest amount of protein and the most efficientmeans of productivity. Any improvement, including incrementalimprovements, can have enormous benefits economically. In thepharmaceutical industry, optimization of protein production forbiologics used in therapies for the treatment of disease isadvantageous, as any improvement can have significant impact when thebiologic is manufactured on a large scale. As such, there remains a needto maximize protein production from cell cultures expressing biologicproteins for use in medicine.

Unless described otherwise, all technical and scientific terms usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methodsand materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can beused in the practice or testing, particular methods and materials arenow described. All publications mentioned are hereby incorporated byreference.

The term “a” should be understood to mean “at least one”; and the terms“about” and “approximately” should be understood to permit standardvariation as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art;and where ranges are provided, endpoints are included.

In some exemplary embodiments, the disclosure provides a method forproducing a protein.

As used herein, the term “protein” includes any amino acid polymerhaving covalently linked amide bonds. Proteins comprise one or moreamino acid polymer chains, generally known in the art as “polypeptides.”“Polypeptide” refers to a polymer composed of amino acid residues,related naturally occurring structural variants, and syntheticnon-naturally occurring analogs thereof linked via peptide bonds,related naturally occurring structural variants, and syntheticnon-naturally occurring analogs thereof. “Synthetic peptides orpolypeptides' refers to a non-naturally occurring peptide orpolypeptide. Synthetic peptides or polypeptides can be synthesized, forexample, using an automated polypeptide synthesizer. Various solid phasepeptide synthesis methods are known to those of skill in the art. Aprotein may contain one or multiple polypeptides to form a singlefunctioning biomolecule. A protein can include any of bio-therapeuticproteins, recombinant proteins used in research or therapy, trapproteins and other chimeric receptor Fc-fusion binding molecules,chimeric proteins, antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonalantibodies, human antibodies, and bispecific antibodies. In anotherexemplary aspect, a protein can include antibody fragments, nanobodies,recombinant antibody chimeras, cytokines, chemokines, peptide hormones,and the like. Recombinant proteins may be produced using recombinantcell-based production systems, such as the insect baculovirus system,yeast systems (e.g., Pichia sp.), mammalian systems (e.g., CHO cells andCHO derivatives like CHO-K1 cells). For a recent review discussingbiotherapeutic proteins and their production, see Darius Ghaderi et al.,Production platforms for biotherapeutic glycoproteins. Occurrence,impact, and challenges of non-human sialylation, 28 BIOTECHNOLOGY ANDGENETIC ENGINEERING REVIEWS 147-176 (2012). In some embodiments,proteins comprise modifications, adducts, and other covalently linkedmoieties. Those modifications, adducts and moieties include for exampleavidin, streptavidin, biotin, glycans (e.g., N-acetylgalactosamine,galactose, neuraminic acid, N-acetylglucosamine, fucose, mannose, andother monosaccharides), PEG, polyhistidine, FLAGtag, maltose bindingprotein (MBP), chitin binding protein (CBP), glutathione-S-transferase(GST) myc-epitope, fluorescent labels and other dyes, and the like.Proteins can be classified on the basis of compositions and solubilityand can thus include simple proteins, such as, globular proteins andfibrous proteins; conjugated proteins, such as, nucleoproteins,glycoproteins, mucoproteins, chromoproteins, phosphoproteins,metalloproteins, and lipoproteins; and derived proteins, such as,primary derived proteins and secondary derived proteins.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protein or the protein or therecombinant protein or the recombinant protein can be an antibody, abispecific antibody, a multispecific antibody, antibody fragment, amonoclonal antibody, a Fc-fusion binding molecule, a F(ab′)₂ fragment, aFc fragment, or combinations thereof.

The term “antibody,” as used herein includes immunoglobulin moleculescomprising four polypeptide chains, two heavy (H) chains and two light(L) chains inter-connected by disulfide bonds, as well as multimersthereof (e.g., IgM). Each heavy chain comprises a heavy chain variableregion (abbreviated herein as HCVR or V_(H)) and a heavy chain constantregion. The heavy chain constant region comprises three domains, C_(H)1,C_(H)2 and C_(H)3. Each light chain comprises a light chain variableregion (abbreviated herein as LCVR or V_(L)) and a light chain constantregion. The light chain constant region comprises one domain (C_(L)1).The V_(H) and V_(L) regions can be further subdivided into regions ofhypervariability, termed complementarity determining regions (CDRs),interspersed with regions that are more conserved, termed frameworkregions (FR). Each V_(H) and V_(L) can be composed of three CDRs andfour FRs, arranged from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus in thefollowing order: FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, and FR4. In differentembodiments of the invention, the FRs of the anti-big-ET-1 antibody (orantigen-binding portion thereof) may be identical to the human germlinesequences, or may be naturally or artificially modified. An amino acidconsensus sequence may be defined based on a side-by-side analysis oftwo or more CDRs. The term “antibody,” as used herein, also includesantigen-binding fragments of full antibody molecules. The terms“antigen-binding portion” of an antibody, “antigen-binding fragment” ofan antibody, and the like, as used herein, include any naturallyoccurring, enzymatically obtainable, synthetic, or geneticallyengineered polypeptide or glycoprotein that specifically binds anantigen to form a complex. Antigen-binding fragments of an antibody maybe derived, e.g., from full antibody molecules using any suitablestandard techniques such as proteolytic digestion or recombinant geneticengineering techniques involving the manipulation and expression of DNAencoding antibody variable and optionally constant domains. Such DNA isknown and/or is readily available from, e.g., commercial sources, DNAlibraries (including, e.g., phage-antibody libraries), or can besynthesized. The DNA may be sequenced and manipulated chemically or byusing molecular biology techniques, for example, to arrange one or morevariable and/or constant domains into a suitable configuration, or tointroduce codons, create cysteine residues, modify, add or delete aminoacids, etc.

The term “monoclonal antibody” as used herein is not limited toantibodies produced through hybridoma technology. A monoclonal antibodycan be derived from a single clone, including any eukaryotic,prokaryotic, or phage clone, by any means available or known in the art.Monoclonal antibodies useful with the present disclosure can be preparedusing a wide variety of techniques known in the art including the use ofhybridoma, recombinant, and phage display technologies, or a combinationthereof.

As used herein, the term “fusion protein” or “Fc fusion protein”comprise part or all of two or more proteins, one of which can be an Fcportion of an immunoglobulin molecule, that are not fused in theirnatural state. Preparation of fusion protein can comprise certainheterologous polypeptides fused to various portions of antibody-derivedpolypeptides (including the Fc domain) has been described, e.g., by A.Ashkenazi et al., Protection against endotoxic shock by a tumor necrosisfactor receptor immunoadhesin., 88 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMYOF SCIENCES 10535-10539 (1991); Randal A. Byrn et al., Biologicalproperties of a CD4 immunoadhesin, 344 NATURE 667-670 (1990); DianeHollenbaugh & Alejandro Aruffo, Construction of Immunoglobulin Fusionbinding molecules, CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN IMMUNOLOGY (2002). “Receptor Fcfusion protein” comprise one or more of one or more extracellulardomain(s) of a receptor coupled to an Fc moiety, which in someembodiments can comprise a hinge region followed by a C_(H)2 and C_(H)3domain of an immunoglobulin. In some embodiments, the Fc protein cancontain two or more distinct receptor chains that bind to a single ormore than one ligand(s). For example, an Fc-fusion protein can be atrap, such as for example an IL-1 trap (e.g., Rilonacept, which containsthe IL-1 RAcP ligand binding region fused to the IL-1R1 extracellularregion fused to Fc of hIgG1; see U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,004, which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety), or a VEGF Trap (e.g.,Aflibercept, which contains the Ig domain 2 of the VEGF receptor Flt1fused to the Ig domain 3 of the VEGF receptor Flk1 fused to Fc of hIgG1;e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,087,411 and 7,279,159, which are hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety).

As used herein, an “antibody fragment” includes a portion of an intactantibody, such as, for example, the antigen-binding or variable regionof an antibody. Examples of antibody fragments include, but are notlimited to, a Fab fragment, a Fab′ fragment, a F(ab′)2 fragment, a scFvfragment, a Fv fragment, a dsFv diabody, a dAb fragment, a Fd′ fragment,a Fd fragment, and an isolated complementarity determining region (CDR)region, as well as triabodies, tetrabodies, linear antibodies,single-chain antibody molecules, and multi specific antibodies formedfrom antibody fragments. Fv fragments are the combination of thevariable regions of the immunoglobulin heavy and light chains, and ScFvproteins are recombinant single chain polypeptide molecules in whichimmunoglobulin light and heavy chain variable regions are connected by apeptide linker. In some exemplary embodiments, an antibody fragmentcontains sufficient amino acid sequence of the parent antibody of whichit is a fragment that it binds to the same antigen as does the parentantibody; in some exemplary embodiments, a fragment binds to the antigenwith a comparable affinity to that of the parent antibody and/orcompetes with the parent antibody for binding to the antigen. Anantibody fragment may be produced by any means. For example, an antibodyfragment may be enzymatically or chemically produced by fragmentation ofan intact antibody and/or it may be recombinantly produced from a geneencoding the partial antibody sequence. Alternatively or additionally,an antibody fragment may be wholly or partially synthetically produced.An antibody fragment may optionally comprise a single chain antibodyfragment. Alternatively or additionally, an antibody fragment maycomprise multiple chains that are linked together, for example, bydisulfide linkages. An antibody fragment may optionally comprise amulti-molecular complex. A functional antibody fragment typicallycomprises at least about 50 amino acids and more typically comprises atleast about 200 amino acids.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protein or the protein or therecombinant protein or the recombinant protein can be an antibodyvariant or a binding molecule variant.

“Variant” or “binding molecule variant” as used herein can include abinding molecule that differs from a target binding molecule by virtueof at least one amino acid modification or a post-translationalmodification. The variant may refer to the binding molecule itself, acomposition comprising the binding molecule, or the amino sequence thatencodes it. Preferably, the binding molecule variant has at least oneamino acid modification compared to the parent binding molecule, e.g.,from about one to about ten amino acid modifications, and preferablyfrom about one to about five amino acid modifications compared to theparent. The binding molecule variant sequence herein will preferablypossess at least about 80% homology with a parent binding moleculesequence, and more preferably at least about 90% homology, mostpreferably at least about 92% homology.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protein or the protein or therecombinant protein or the recombinant protein can be a protein with aspecific post-translational modification.

As used herein, the general term “post-translational modifications” or“PTMs” refer to covalent modifications that polypeptides undergo, eitherduring (co-translational modification) or after (post-translationalmodification) their ribosomal synthesis. PTMs are generally introducedby specific enzymes or enzyme pathways. Many occur at the site of aspecific characteristic protein sequence (e.g., signature sequence)within the protein backbone. Several hundred PTMs have been recorded,and these modifications invariably influence some aspect of a protein'sstructure or function (Walsh, G. “Proteins” (2014) second edition,published by Wiley and Sons, Ltd., ISBN: 9780470669853). The variouspost-translational modifications include, but are not limited to,cleavage, N-terminal extensions, protein degradation, acylation of theN-terminus, biotinylation (acylation of lysine residues with a biotin),amidation of the C-terminal, glycosylation, iodination, covalentattachment of prosthetic groups, acetylation (the addition of an acetylgroup, usually at the N-terminus of the protein), alkylation (theaddition of an alkyl group (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl) usually atlysine or arginine residues), methylation, adenylation,ADP-ribosylation, covalent cross links within, or between, polypeptidechains, sulfonation, prenylation, Vitamin C dependent modifications(proline and lysine hydroxylations and carboxy terminal amidation),Vitamin K dependent modification wherein Vitamin K is a cofactor in thecarboxylation of glutamic acid residues resulting in the formation of aγ-carboxyglutamate (a glu residue), glutamylation (covalent linkage ofglutamic acid residues), glycylation (covalent linkage glycineresidues), glycosylation (addition of a glycosyl group to eitherasparagine, hydroxylysine, serine, or threonine, resulting in aglycoprotein), isoprenylation (addition of an isoprenoid group such asfarnesol and geranylgeraniol), lipoylation (attachment of a lipoatefunctionality), phosphopantetheinylation (addition of a4′-phosphopantetheinyl moiety from coenzyme A, as in fatty acid,polyketide, non-ribosomal peptide and leucine biosynthesis),phosphorylation (addition of a phosphate group, usually to serine,tyrosine, threonine or histidine), and sulfation (addition of a sulfategroup, usually to a tyrosine residue). The post-translationalmodifications that change the chemical nature of amino acids include,but are not limited to, citrullination (e.g., the conversion of arginineto citrulline by deimination), and deamidation (e.g., the conversion ofglutamine to glutamic acid or asparagine to aspartic acid). Thepost-translational modifications that involve structural changesinclude, but are not limited to, formation of disulfide bridges(covalent linkage of two cysteine amino acids) and proteolytic cleavage(cleavage of a protein at a peptide bond). Certain post-translationalmodifications involve the addition of other proteins or peptides, suchas ISGylation (covalent linkage to the ISG15 protein(Interferon-Stimulated Gene)), SUMOylation (covalent linkage to the SUMOprotein (Small Ubiquitin-related MOdifier)) and ubiquitination (covalentlinkage to the protein ubiquitin). Seehttp://www.uniprot.org/docs/ptmlist for a more detailed controlledvocabulary of PTMs curated by UniProt.

In some exemplary embodiments, the disclosure provides a cell culturemedium for eukaryotic cells comprising a basal medium or a feed mediumand 5-methylthioadenosine and/or nicotinamide.

As used herein, the term “cell culture medium” refers to cells grown inan artificial (e.g., an in vitro) environment. It is to be understood,however, that the term “cell culture” is a generic term and may be usedto encompass the cultivation not only of individual prokaryotic (e.g.,bacterial) or eukaryotic (e.g., animal, plant and fungal) cells, butalso of tissues, organs, organ systems or whole organisms, for which theterms “tissue culture,” “organ culture,” “organ system culture” or“organotypic culture” may occasionally be used interchangeably with theterm “cell culture.” Suitable culture conditions for eukaryotic cellscan be found in the art e.g. Animal cell culture: A Practical Approach,D. Rickwood, ed., Oxford University Press, New York (1992). Cell culturemedium may be optimized for a specific cell culture use, including, forexample, cell culture growth medium which can be formulated to promotecellular growth, or cell culture production medium which can beformulated to promote recombinant protein production. The termsnutrient, ingredient, and component are used interchangeably herein torefer to the constituents that make up a cell culture medium.

As used herein, the term “basal medium” can refer to any medium whichcan be capable of supporting growth of cells. The basal medium cancomprise a number of ingredients, including amino acids, vitamins,organic and inorganic salts, sources of carbohydrate, each ingredientbeing present in an amount which supports the cultivation of a cell invitro. The medium may contain auxiliary substances, such as buffersubstances like sodium bicarbonate, oxidation stabilizers, stabilizersto counteract mechanical stress, or protease inhibitors. Examples ofbasal media include, but are not limited to, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle'sMedium (DMEM), DME/F12, Minimal Essential Medium (MEM), Basal MediumEagle (BME), Medium 199, RPMI 1640, F-10, F-12, α-Minimal EssentialMedium (α-MEM), Glasgow's Minimal Essential Medium (G-MEM), PF CHO (SAFCBiosciences), Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium or combinationsthereof, and others that are known from the literature or arecommercially available.

As used herein, the term “feed medium” includes a medium containing oneor more nutrients that can be added to the culture beginning at sometime after inoculation. The feed medium can also be a combination feedcomprising a basal medium and at least one type of hydrolysate, e.g.,soy-based, hydrolysate, a yeast-based hydrolysate, or a combination ofthe two types of hydrolysates. Further, the feed medium can also includeonly a basal medium, such as a concentrated basal medium, or may includeonly hydrolysates, or concentrated hydrolysates.

As used herein, the term “eukaryotic cells” can include individualcells, tissues, organs, insect cells, avian cells, mammalian cells,primary cells, continuous cell lines, stem cells and/or geneticallyengineered cells, such as recombinant cells expressing a hetereologouspolypeptide or protein. Some mammalian cells suitable for cultivation inthe cell culture medium can be of human origin or non-human origin caninclude primary epithelial cells (e.g., keratinocytes, cervicalepithelial cells, bronchial epithelial cells, tracheal epithelial cells,kidney epithelial cells and retinal epithelial cells), established celllines and their strains (e.g., 293 embryonic kidney cells, BHK cells,HeLa cervical epithelial cells and PER-C6 retinal cells, MDBK (NBL-1)cells, 911 cells, CRFK cells, MDCK cells, CHO cells, BeWo cells, Changcells, Detroit 562 cells, HeLa 229 cells, HeLa S3 cells, Hep-2 cells, KBcells, LSI80 cells, LS174T cells, NCI-H-548 cells, RPMI2650 cells, SW-13cells, T24 cells, WI-28 VA13, 2RA cells, WISH cells, BS-C-I cells,LLC-MK2 cells, Clone M-3 cells, 1-10 cells, RAG cells, TCMK-1 cells, Y-1cells, LLC-PKi cells, PK(15) cells, GHi cells, GH3 cells, L2 cells,LLC-RC 256 cells, MHiCi cells, XC cells, MDOK cells, VSW cells, andTH-I, B1 cells, BSC-1 cells, RAf cells, RK-cells, PK-15 cells orderivatives thereof), fibroblast cells from any tissue or organ(including but not limited to heart, liver, kidney, colon, intestines,esophagus, stomach, neural tissue (brain, spinal cord), lung, vasculartissue (artery, vein, capillary), lymphoid tissue (lymph gland, adenoid,tonsil, bone marrow, and blood), spleen, and fibroblast andfibroblast-like cell lines (e.g., CHO cells, TRG-2 cells, IMR-33 cells,Don cells, GHK-21 cells, citrullinemia cells, Dempsey cells, Detroit 551cells, Detroit 510 cells, Detroit 525 cells, Detroit 529 cells, Detroit532 cells, Detroit 539 cells, Detroit 548 cells, Detroit 573 cells, HEL299 cells, IMR-90 cells, MRC-5 cells, WI-38 cells, WI-26 cells, Midicells, CHO cells, CV-1 cells, COS-1 cells, COS-3 cells, COS-7 cells,Vero cells, DBS-FrhL-2 cells, BALB/3T3 cells, F9 cells, SV-T2 cells,M-MSV-BALB/3T3 cells, K-BALB cells, BLO-11 cells, NOR-10 cells,C3H/IOTI/2 cells, HSDMiC3 cells, KLN205 cells, McCoy cells, Mouse Lcells, Strain 2071 (Mouse L) cells, L-M strain (Mouse L) cells, L-MTK′(Mouse L) cells, NCTC clones 2472 and 2555, SCC-PSA1 cells, Swiss/3T3cells, Indian muntjac cells, SIRC cells, Cn cells, and Jensen cells,Sp2/0, NS0, NS1 cells or derivatives thereof).

As used herein, “nicotinamide” can also be referred to as niacinamide,Nicotinic acid amide, Pyridine-3-carboxylic acid amide, Vitamin B3,Vitamin PP, 3-Pyridinecarboxamide, CAS number 98-92-0, or C₆H₆N₂O.

As used herein, “5-methylthioadenosine” can also be referred to as5-Deoxy-5′-methyl-thioadenosine, CAS number 2457-80-9, MTA, MeSAdo, NSC335422, Vitamin L2, salts of 5-methylthioadenosine, or esters of5-methylthioadenosine. Non-limiting examples of salts suitable for5-methylthioadenosine, for example, include acid addition salts. Theacid addition salts may be inorganic and organic acid addition salts,e.g., hydrochlorides, sulfates, nitrates, carbonates, phosphates,formates, oxalates, citrates, ascorbic acid, methanesulfonic acid,1,4-butane sulfonate, 1,5-pentane sulfonate and p-toluenesulphonatesalts.

In some exemplary embodiments, the disclosure provides a method ofproducing a protein comprising culturing eukaryotic cells having anucleic acid encoding the protein in a cell culture production medium.

Cell culture medium or cell culture production medium can besupplemented with enriched media containing components, such asnutrients and amino acids, which are consumed during the course of theproduction phase of the cell culture.

As used herein, the term “cell culture production medium” can include acell culture medium designed to be used during the production phase of acell culture.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture production medium or thecell culture medium can be a serum-free medium.

As used herein, the term “serum-free medium” includes a cell culturemedium that does not contain animal serum, such as fetal bovine serum.Serum-free media may or may not contain hydrolysates, growth factors,hormones, carrier proteins, and attachment factors. Examples of knownserum-free medium include CHO-S-SFM II (Gibco) and 293 SFM II (Gibco).

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture production medium or thecell culture medium can be a medium with no animal-derived protein.

As used herein, the term “medium with no animal-derived protein” canrefer to a medium that does not contain proteins and protein componentsfrom higher multicellular non-plant eukaryotes (that is, vertebrates),that possess the secondary, tertiary and quaternary structurescharacteristic of the proteins as they occur in nature. Such a mediumdoes not contain proteins, such as albumin, transferrin, insulin andother growth factors. However, animal-derived proteins and proteincomponents are different from non-animal proteins, small polypeptidesand oligopeptides obtainable from plants (usually about 10-30 aminoacids in length), such as the soy bean, and lower eukaryotes, such asyeast. On contacting or inoculating the cells with an animal-deriveprotein medium, the medium will contain animal proteins shed or secretedby those cells, including any recombinant proteins expressed bygenetically modified cells if such cells are cultivated. Thus, the termanimal protein free medium, and biological materials and preparationsproduced therewith, is not to be construed to require the absence ofproteins shed or secreted by cells propagated in the media, but ratherrefers to a lack of direct supplementation of media with animal proteinsand protein components obtained from animal sources or the like producedrecombinantly.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture production medium or thecell culture medium can be a chemically-defined medium.

As used herein, a “chemically-defined medium” can include a mediumcomposed of pure ingredients in measured concentrations. Achemically-defined medium can contain a simple sugar as the carbon andenergy source, an inorganic nitrogen source, various mineral salts andif necessary growth factors (purified amino acids, vitamins, purines andpyrimidines). Various tissue culture media, including defined culturemedia, are commercially available, for example, any one or a combinationof the following cell culture media can be used: RPMI-1640 Medium,Medium 199, RPMI-1641 Medium, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM),Minimum Essential Medium Eagle, F-12K Medium, Ham's F12 Medium, Iscove'sModified Dulbecco's Medium, McCoy's 5A Medium, Leibovitz's L-15 Medium,and serum-free media such as EX-CELL™ 300 Series (JRH Biosciences,Lenexa, Kans.), among others.

In some exemplary embodiments, the method of producing a protein can bea fed-batch method.

As used herein, the term “fed-batch method,” refers to a method by whicha fed batch cell culture can be supplied with additional nutrients. Forexample, a method may comprise adding supplemental media according to adetermined feeding schedule within a given time period. The “fed batchcell culture” as used herein, refer to a cell culture wherein the cellsand culture medium are supplied to the culturing vessel initially andadditional culture nutrients are fed, continuously or in discreteincrements, to the culture during growing, with or without periodic celland/or product harvest before termination of culture.

It is understood that the present invention is not limited to any of theaforementioned eukaryotic cells, protein, basal medium, feed medium,cell-culture medium, cell-culture production medium, method ofpropagating cells, method of expressing a protein, method of harvestinga protein, method of introducing into a cell a nucleic acid comprising asequence encoding a protein and time period of adding or supplementingcomponents in the medium and that any suitable media can be selected byany suitable means.

As used herein, the terms “include,” “includes,” and “including,” aremeant to be non-limiting and are understood to mean “comprise,”“comprises,” and “comprising,” respectively.

In some exemplary embodiments, the disclosure provides a cell culturemedium for eukaryotic cells.

In some exemplary embodiments, the disclosure provides a method forproducing a protein.

In some exemplary embodiments, the disclosure provides a method forculturing eukaryotic cells for increasing production of a protein.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture medium can comprise5-methyl-thioadenosine in a concentration of at least about 0.05 nM, atleast about 1 nM, at least about 2 nM, at least about 3 nM, at leastabout 4 nM, at least about 5 nM, at least about 6 nM, at least about 7nM, at least about 8 nM, at least about 9 nM, at least about 10 nM, atleast about 15 nM, at least about 20 nM, at least about 25 nM, at leastabout 30 nM, at least about 35 nM, at least about 40 nM, at least about45 nM, at least about 50 nM, at least about 55 nM, at least about 60 nM,at least about 65 nM, at least about 70 nM, at least about 75 nM, atleast about 80 nM, at least about 85 nM, at least about 90 nM, at leastabout 95 nM, at least about 100 nM, at least about 105 nM, at leastabout 110 nM, at least about 115 nM, at least about 120 nM, at leastabout 125 nM, at least about 130 nM, at least about 135 nM, at leastabout 140 nM, at least about 145 nM, at least about 150 nM, at leastabout 155 nM, at least about 160 nM, at least about 165 nM, at leastabout 170 nM, at least about 175 nM, at least about 180 nM, at leastabout 195 nM, at least about 200 nM, about 205 nM, at least about 210nM, at least about 215 nM, at least about 220 nM, at least about 225 nM,at least about 230 nM, at least about 235 nM, at least about 240 nM, atleast about 245 nM, at least about 250 nM, at least about 255 nM, atleast about 260 nM, at least about 265 nM, at least about 270 nM, atleast about 275 nM, at least about 280 nM, at least about 295 nM, or atleast about 300 nM.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture medium can comprise5-nicotinamide in a concentration of at least about 0.05 nM, at leastabout 1 nM, at least about 2 nM, at least about 3 nM, at least about 4nM, at least about 5 nM, at least about 6 nM, at least about 7 nM, atleast about 8 nM, at least about 9 nM, at least about 10 nM, at leastabout 15 nM, at least about 20 nM, at least about 25 nM, at least about30 nM, at least about 35 nM, at least about 40 nM, at least about 45 nM,at least about 50 nM, at least about 55 nM, at least about 60 nM, atleast about 65 nM, at least about 70 nM, at least about 75 nM, at leastabout 80 nM, at least about 85 nM, at least about 90 nM, at least about95 nM, at least about 100 nM, at least about 105 nM, at least about 110nM, at least about 115 nM, at least about 120 nM, at least about 125 nM,at least about 130 nM, at least about 135 nM, at least about 140 nM, atleast about 145 nM, at least about 150 nM, at least about 155 nM, atleast about 160 nM, at least about 165 nM, at least about 170 nM, atleast about 175 nM, at least about 180 nM, at least about 195 nM, atleast about 200 nM, about 205 nM, at least about 210 nM, at least about215 nM, at least about 220 nM, at least about 225 nM, at least about 230nM, at least about 235 nM, at least about 240 nM, at least about 245 nM,at least about 250 nM, at least about 255 nM, at least about 260 nM, atleast about 265 nM, at least about 270 nM, at least about 275 nM, atleast about 280 nM, at least about 295 nM, at least about 300 nM, atleast about 305 nM, at least about 310 nM, at least about 315 nM, atleast about 320 nM, at least about 325 nM, at least about 330 nM, atleast about 335 nM, at least about 340 nM, at least about 345 nM, atleast about 350 nM, at least about 355 nM, at least about 360 nM, atleast about 365 nM, at least about 370 nM, at least about 375 nM, atleast about 380 nM, at least about 395 nM, at least about 400 nM, about405 nM, at least about 410 nM, at least about 515 nM, at least about 420nM, at least about 425 nM, at least about 430 nM, at least about 435 nM,at least about 440 nM, at least about 445 nM, at least about 450 nM, atleast about 455 nM, at least about 460 nM, at least about 465 nM, atleast about 470 nM, at least about 475 nM, at least about 480 nM, atleast about 495 nM, at least about 500 nM, at least about 510 nM, atleast about 520 nM, at least about 530 nM, at least about 540 nM, atleast about 550 nM, at least about 560 nM, at least about 570 nM, atleast about 580 nM, at least about 590 nM, at least about 600 nM, atleast about 610 nM, at least about 620 nM, at least about 630 nM, atleast about 640 nM, at least about 650 nM, at least about 660 nM, atleast about 670 nM, at least about 680 nM, at least about 690 nM, atleast about 700 nM, at least about 710 nM, at least about 720 nM, atleast about 730 nM, at least about 740 nM, at least about 750 nM, atleast about 760 nM, at least about 770 nM, at least about 780 nM, atleast about 790 nM, at least about 800 nM, at least about 810 nM, atleast about 820 nM, at least about 830 nM, at least about 840 nM, atleast about 850 nM, at least about 860 nM, at least about 870 nM, atleast about 880 nM, at least about 890 nM, at least about 900 nM, atleast about 910 nM, at least about 920 nM, at least about 930 nM, atleast about 940 nM, at least about 950 nM, at least about 960 nM, atleast about 970 nM, at least about 980 nM, at least about 990 nM, atleast about 1000 nM, at least about 1050 nM, least about 1100 nM, atleast about 1150 nM, at least about 1200 nM, at least about 1250 nM,least about 1300 nM, at least about 1350 nM, at least about 1400 nM, atleast about 1450 nM, least about 1500 nM, at least about 1550 nM, atleast about 1600 nM, at least about 1650 nM, least about 1700 nM, atleast about 1750 nM, at least about 1800 nM, at least about 1850 nM, atleast about 1900 nM, at least about 1950 nM, least about 2000 nM, atleast about 2050 nM, least about 2100 nM, at least about 2150 nM, atleast about 2200 nM, at least about 2250 nM, least about 2300 nM, atleast about 2350 nM, at least about 2400 nM, at least about 2450 nM,least about 2500 nM, at least about 2550 nM, at least about 2600 nM, atleast about 2650 nM, least about 2700 nM, at least about 2750 nM, atleast about 2800 nM, at least about 2850 nM, at least about 2900 nM, atleast about 2950 nM, or least about 3000 nM.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture medium can have a pH ofabout 6.5 to about 8.0. In some specific exemplary embodiments, the cellculture medium can have a pH of about 6.5, about 6.6, about 6.7, about6.8, about 6.9, about 7.0, about 7.1, about 7.2, about 7.3, about 7.4,about 7.5, about 7.6, about 7.7, about 7.8, about 7.9, or about 8.0.

In some exemplary embodiments, the eukaryotic cells are grown at atemperature of about 25° C. to about 40° C. In some specific exemplaryembodiments the eukaryotic cells are grown at a temperature of about 25°C., about 26° C., about 27° C., about 28° C., about 29° C., about 30°C., about 31° C., about 32° C., about 33° C., about 34° C., about 35°C., about 36° C., about 37° C., about 38° C., about 39° C., or about 40°C.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture medium can comprise atleast about 10 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, wherein a titer of a proteinproduced in the cell culture medium can be at least about 2% greaterthan another cell culture medium that does not have at least about 10 nM5-methylthioadenosine. In one aspect, the cell culture medium cancomprise at least about 20 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 30nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 40 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, atleast about 50 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 60 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 70 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, atleast about 80 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 90 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 100 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, atleast about 110 nM 5-methylthioadenosine at least about 120 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 130 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, atleast about 140 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 150 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 160 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, atleast about 170 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 180 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 190 nM 5-methylthioadenosine or atleast about 200 nM 5-methylthioadenosine. In one aspect, the titer of aprotein produced in the cell culture medium can be greater by at leastabout 3%, at least about 4%, at least about 5%, at least about 6%, atleast about 7%, at least about 8%, at least about 9%, at least about10%, at least about 11%, at least about 12%, at least about 13%, atleast about 14%, at least about 15%, at least about 16%, at least about17%, at least about 18%, at least about 19%, at least about 20%, atleast about 21%, at least about 22%, at least about 23%, at least about24%, at least about 25%, at least about 26%, at least about 27%, atleast about 28%, at least about 29%, or at least about 30%.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture medium can comprise atleast about 50 nM nicotinamide, wherein a titer of a protein produced inthe cell culture medium can be at least about 2% greater than anothercell culture medium that does not have at least about 50 nMnicotinamide. In one aspect, the cell culture medium can comprise atleast about 50 nM nicotinamide, at least about 100 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 150 nM nicotinamide, at least about 200 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 250 nM nicotinamide, at least about 300 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 350 nM nicotinamide, at least about 400 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 450 nM nicotinamide, at least about 500 nM nicotinamide atleast about 550 nM nicotinamide, at least about 600 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 650 nM nicotinamide, at least about 700 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 750 nM nicotinamide, at least about 800 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 850 nM nicotinamide, at least about 900 nM nicotinamide orat least about 1000 nM nicotinamide. In one aspect, the titer of aprotein produced in the cell culture medium can be greater by at leastabout 3%, at least about 4%, at least about 5%, at least about 6%, atleast about 7%, at least about 8%, at least about 9%, at least about10%, at least about 11%, at least about 12%, at least about 13%, atleast about 14%, at least about 15%, at least about 16%, at least about17%, at least about 18%, at least about 19%, at least about 20%, atleast about 21%, at least about 22%, at least about 23%, at least about24%, at least about 25%, at least about 26%, at least about 27%, atleast about 28%, at least about 29%, or at least about 30%.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture medium can comprisefeeding the eukaryotic cells using an enriched media having5-methylthioadenosine at a concentration of at least about 0.05 nM, atleast about 1 nM, at least about 2 nM, at least about 3 nM, at leastabout 4 nM, at least about 5 nM, at least about 6 nM, at least about 7nM, at least about 8 nM, at least about 9 nM, at least about 10 nM, atleast about 11 nM, at least about 12 nM, at least about 13 nM, at leastabout 14 nM, at least about 15 nM, at least about 20 nM, at least about25 nM, at least about 30 nM, at least about 35 nM, at least about 40 nM,or at least about 50 nM.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture medium can comprisefeeding the eukaryotic cells using an enriched media having nicotinamideat a concentration of at least about 1 nM, at least about 2 nM, at leastabout 3 nM, at least about 4 nM, at least about 5 nM, at least about 6nM, at least about 7 nM, at least about 8 nM, at least about 9 nM, atleast about 10 nM, at least about 15 nM, at least about 20 nM, at leastabout 25 nM, at least about 30 nM, at least about 35 nM, at least about40 nM, at least about 50 nM, at least about 55 nM, at least about 60 nM,at least about 65 nM, at least about 70 nM, at least about 75 nM, atleast about 80 nM, at least about 85 nM, at least about 90 nM, at leastabout 95 nM, at least about 100 nM, at least about 105 nM, at leastabout 110 nM, at least about 115 nM, at least about 120 nM, at leastabout 125 nM, at least about 130 nM, at least about 135 nM, at leastabout 140 nM, at least about 145 nM, at least about 150 nM, at leastabout 155 nM, at least about 160 nM, at least about 165 nM, at leastabout 170 nM, at least about 175 nM, at least about 180 nM, at leastabout 195 nM, or at least about 200 nM.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture medium can comprisefeeding the eukaryotic cells using an enriched media having5-methylthioadenosine at a concentration of at least about 1 nM, whereina titer of a protein produced in the cell culture medium can be at leastabout 2% greater than another cell culture medium that does not have atleast about 10 nM 5-methylthioadenosine. In one aspect, the enrichedmedia can have at least about 2 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about3 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 4 nM 5-methylthioadenosine,at least about 5 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 6 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 7 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, atleast about 8 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 9 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 10 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, atleast about 11 nM 5-methylthioadenosine at least about 12 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 13 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, atleast about 14 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 15 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 16 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, atleast about 17 nM 5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 18 nM5-methylthioadenosine, at least about 19 nM 5-methylthioadenosine or atleast about 20 nM 5-methylthioadenosine. In one aspect, the titer of aprotein produced in the cell culture medium can be greater by at leastabout 3%, at least about 4%, at least about 5%, at least about 6%, atleast about 7%, at least about 8%, at least about 9%, at least about10%, at least about 11%, at least about 12%, at least about 13%, atleast about 14%, at least about 15%, at least about 16%, at least about17%, at least about 18%, at least about 19%, at least about 20%, atleast about 21%, at least about 22%, at least about 23%, at least about24%, at least about 25%, at least about 26%, at least about 27%, atleast about 28%, at least about 29%, or at least about 30%.

In some exemplary embodiments, the cell culture medium can comprisefeeding the eukaryotic cells using an enriched media having nicotinamideat a concentration of at least about 5 nM, wherein a titer of a proteinproduced in the cell culture medium can be greater by at least about 2%than another cell culture medium that does not have at least about 50 nMnicotinamide. In one aspect, the cell culture medium can comprise atleast about 5 nM nicotinamide, at least about 10 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 15 nM nicotinamide, at least about 20 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 25 nM nicotinamide, at least about 30 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 35 nM nicotinamide, at least about 400 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 45 nM nicotinamide, at least about 50 nM nicotinamide atleast about 55 nM nicotinamide, at least about 60 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 65 nM nicotinamide, at least about 70 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 75 nM nicotinamide, at least about 80 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 85 nM nicotinamide, at least about 90 nM nicotinamide, atleast about 95 nM nicotinamide or at least about 100 nM nicotinamide. Inone aspect, the titer of a protein produced in the cell culture mediumcan be greater by at least about 3%, at least about 4%, at least about5%, at least about 6%, at least about 7%, at least about 8%, at leastabout 9%, at least about 10%, at least about 11%, at least about 12%, atleast about 13%, at least about 14%, at least about 15%, at least about16%, at least about 17%, at least about 18%, at least about 19%, atleast about 20%, at least about 21%, at least about 22%, at least about23%, at least about 24%, at least about 25%, at least about 26%, atleast about 27%, at least about 28%, at least about 29%, or at leastabout 30%.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protein can be a naturally occurringprotein.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protein can be a recombinant protein.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protein can be a bio-therapeuticprotein.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protein can be a recombinant protein,wherein the recombinant protein can be a trap protein, a chimericreceptor Fc-fusion binding molecule, a chimeric protein, an antibody,monoclonal antibody, a polyclonal antibody, a human antibody, abispecific antibody, an antibody fragment, a nanobody, a recombinantantibody chimera, a cytokine, a chemokine, or a peptide hormone.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protein can comprise modifications,adducts, and other covalently linked moieties.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protein can comprise apost-translational modification.

The consecutive labeling of method steps as provided herein with numbersand/or letters is not meant to limit the method or any embodimentsthereof to the particular indicated order.

Various publications, including patents, patent applications, publishedpatent applications, accession numbers, technical articles and scholarlyarticles are cited throughout the specification. Each of these citedreferences is incorporated by reference, in its entirety and for allpurposes, herein.

The disclosure will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing Examples, which are provided to describe the disclosure ingreater detail. They are intended to illustrate and should not beconstrued as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

EXAMPLES

To study the contents of a cell culture medium and its effect on theproduction of a protein, cell culture comprising soy hydrolysate wasselected for generating a VEGFR binding protein 1.

Example 1

Soy hydrolysate content analysis was performed using nine different lotsobtained from three distinct shipments—1, 2 and 3. The samples fromthese three distinct shipments were sent to Metabolon (Durham, N.C.,USA). The soy hydrolysate content analysis was conducted at Metabolonusing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer. Over three hundredcomponents in the soy hydrolysate were measured. Only the results scaledto median were provided.

For studying the effect of biochemicals on the titer of VEGFR (VascularEndothelial Growth Factor Receptor) binding protein 1, an orthogonalpartial least squares (OPLS) model was used for multivariate analysis(MVA). Seventy soy hydrolysates lot were included in the study.

The dependence between the components and titer was evaluated bystudying the correlation and covariance. A positive dependence suggestsan increase in titer with increase in the biochemical and a negativedependence suggests a decrease in titer with increase in thebiochemical. For the final titer evaluation for a principal component,the values for R²X, R²Y and Q² were found to be 0.315, 0.672, and 0.493,respectively. The components that showed positive dependence are shownin Table 1 and the components that showed negative dependence are shownin Table 2.

TABLE 1 Positive dependence Nicotinamide Lactate phenyllactate (PLA)5-methylthioadenosine (MTA) indolelacate succinatealpha-hydroxyisocaproate 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactate (HPLA)alpha-hydroxyisovalerate 2-hydroxy-3-methylvalerate

TABLE 2 Negative dependence nicotinate sucrose uracil phenylalaninevalyleucine maltose digalactosylglycerol pantothenate (Vitamin B5)xanthine serine

The MVA result normalized to unit length is shown in FIG. 1. Based onthese finding from example 2, nicotinamide and 5-methythioadenosine wereselected as positive markers for further analysis.

Example 2

The impact of 5-methythioadenosine on production of a recombinantprotein (VEGFR binding protein 1) was studied by investigating theprotein titer (g/L) at different concentrations of 5-methythioadenosinepresent in the cell culture medium.

An enriched medium (soy hydrolysate) comprising 5-methythioadenosine wasadded to the cell culture medium. FIG. 2 shows the correlation betweenthe concentration of 5-methylthioadenosine present in the soyhydrolysate added to the cell culture medium with the titer of VEGFRbinding protein 1.

As seen in FIG. 2, the regression line relating to the variables (N=70)extrapolated suggests that titer varied linearly to the concentration of5-methythioadenosine in the soy hydrolysate added to the cell culturemedium, suggesting that higher titer can be obtained on increasing5-methythioadenosine concentration in the cell culture medium.

Example 3

Based on the correlation data obtained from studying the effect of5-methythioadenosine concentrations in the enriched medium (soyhydrolysate) supplemented to the cell culture medium (Example 2, FIG.2), an estimation as to the optimum concentration of 5-MTA in a cellculture was made. FIG. 3 shows the regression line relating to thevariables (N=70) extrapolated suggests that titer can vary linearly tothe concentration of 5-methythioadenosine in the cell culture mediumshowing that higher titer can be obtained on increasing5-methythioadenosine concentration in the cell culture medium.

Example 4

The impact of nicotinamide on a recombinant protein (VEGFR bindingprotein 1) titer was also studied by investigating the protein titer(g/L) at different concentrations of nicotinamide present in the cellculture medium.

An enriched medium (soy hydrolysate) comprising nicotinamide was addedto the cell culture medium at varying concentrations. FIG. 4 shows thecorrelation between the concentration of nicotinamide present in the soyhydrolysate added to the cell culture medium with the titer of VEGFRbinding protein 1. As seen in FIG. 4, the regression line relating tothe variables (N=70) extrapolated suggests that titer varied linearly tothe concentration of nicotinamide in the soy hydrolysate, suggestingthat higher titer can be obtained on increasing nicotinamideconcentration in the cell culture medium.

Example 5

Based on the correlation data obtained from studying the effect ofnicotinamide concentration in enriched medium (soy hydrolysate)supplemented to the cell culture medium (Example 4, FIG. 4), anestimation as to the optimum concentration of nicotinamide in a cellculture was made. FIG. 5 shows the regression line relating to thevariables (N=70) extrapolated suggests that titer can vary linearly tothe concentration of nicotinamide in the cell culture medium, suggestingthat higher titer can be obtained on increasing nicotinamideconcentration in the cell culture medium.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cell culture medium for eukaryotic cells expressing Aflibercept, comprising: a basal medium or a feed medium; and 5-methylthioadenosine or nicotinamide.
 2. The cell culture medium of claim 1, wherein a concentration of 5-methylthioadenosine in the cell culture medium is at least about 10 nM.
 3. The cell culture medium of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the nicotinamide in the cell culture medium is at least about 50 nM.
 4. The cell culture medium of claim 1 further comprising one or more acids selected from lactic acid, phenyl lactic acid, indolelactic acid, succinic acid, alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactic acid, or 2-hydroxy-3-methylvaleric acid, salts of these acids, esters of these acids and combinations thereof.
 5. The cell culture medium of claim 2, wherein a titer of the Aflibercept produced in the cell culture medium is at least about 2% greater than another cell culture medium that does not have at least about 10 nM 5-methylthioadenosine.
 6. The cell culture medium of claim 3, wherein a titer of the Aflibercept produced in the cell culture medium is at least about 2% greater than another cell culture medium that does not have at least about 50 nM nicotinamide.
 7. The cell culture medium of claim 1, wherein the 5-methylthioadenosine or the nicotinamide can be in the form of its salts or esters.
 8. The cell culture medium of claim 1, wherein pH of the medium is maintained in the range of about 6.5 to about
 8. 9. The cell culture medium of claim 1, wherein the medium does not have a protein derived from an animal.
 10. The cell culture medium of claim 1, wherein the medium is a serum-free medium.
 11. The cell culture medium of claim 1, wherein the medium is a chemically-defined medium. 12.-31. (canceled)
 32. A method for culturing eukaryotic cells for increasing production of aflibercept, comprising the steps of: introducing into the eukaryotic cell a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding aflibercept; culturing the eukaryotic cells in a cell culture medium; supplementing the cell culture medium with 5-methylthioadenosine, wherein a concentration of the 5-methylthioadenosine is from about 10 nM to about 200 nM; and producing aflibercept in the eukaryotic cells, wherein the supplementation with 5-methylthioadenosine increases a titer of the aflibercept.
 33. (canceled)
 34. The method of claim 32, wherein the titer of the aflibercept is at least about 2% greater than another method with a cell culture medium that does not have at least about 10 nM 5-methylthioadenosine.
 35. The method of claim 32, wherein the cell culture medium further comprises one or more acids selected from lactic acid, phenyllactic acid, indolelactic acid, succinic acid, alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactic acid, or 2-hydroxy-3-methylvaleric acid, salts of these acids, esters of these acids and combinations thereof.
 36. The method of claim 32, wherein the eukaryotic cells include at least one selected from the group consisting of: baby hamster kidney cell lines, Chinese hamster ovary cell lines, murine myeloma cell lines, mouse myeloma cell lines, human embryonic kidney cell lines, human retina-derived cell lines, and amniocyte cell lines.
 37. The method of claim 32, wherein the aflibercept is secreted in the medium.
 38. The method of claim 32, wherein the cell culture medium does not have a protein derived from an animal.
 39. The method of claim 32, wherein the cell culture medium is a serum-free medium.
 40. The method of claim 32, wherein the cell culture medium is a chemically-defined medium. 41.-50. (canceled) 51.-58. (canceled) 